Wednesday, January 5, 2011

ODE TO A LOBSTER

Have you ever taken a closer look at a lobster? Oh, what a beautiful, fascinating and photogenic creature it is...

This crustacean is so complex and majestic looking, cute and fierce at the same time with their threateningly powerful claws, graceful ballerina legs, elegant fan-like tails, tiny naive black eyes, harmoniously aerodynamic bodies and their bionic/Gigeresque (see H.R. Giger) exoskeleton. A real piece of art!

Apart from being considered a delicacy, this sea-dwelling animal also commands respect and admiration. They can live as long as 100 years and are similar to knights in armor. Their exterior skeleton is made of 21 different pieces and is a real shield that protects them from agressions.

Did you know that this decapod sheds it's shell frequently while young and less frequently as it grows? Once it has molted, the lobster is helpless and cannot defend itself against predators. The only way to not get attacked by it's enemies is to hide under rocks, reefs, caves, and any other structure that will shield him, and wait until the new shell hardens. If a lobster loses a leg or a claw, it is capable of growing a new one. Intriguing! No?Molting is very important for lobsters as it is the only way they can grow since they are somehow trapped in their exoskeletons considering the fact that their shell cannot get any bigger than it is. In order for it's body to grow larger, it must shed it's shell and replace it with a bigger one.

To get out of it's exoskeleton, a lobster has to shrink it's muscles in its limbs by releasing fluid out of the tissues. This helps it release it's appendages from the surrounding shell which cracks open to release the entire body. Very disturbing, but so praiseworthy at the same time.

Therefore it is such a pity to see how they are treated once they have been captured. Since our modern world (globalisation) demands drastic actions and measures to fulfill our exagerated needs, lobsters (amongst other animals) are victims of our propensity for constently wanting what cannot be found where we live.

Most of lobsters are shipped living (apart from those which have been cooked and frozen beforehand) to far away countries, travel in terrible conditions and are sold piled up, with broken antennas and trapped by restraints. Apart from those offered on seaside markets (or in stores situated close to the seaside), most of them suffer hell for many hours or days before meeting their death, sometimes in a dreadful manner (especially when the person in charge doesn't know how to do it correctly - boiling & cutting open).

It seems that certain people see them as critters with less value than other animals that we feed on. They are treated like mere objects without souls or feelings. Just because they are crawlers with whom we cannot socialize or interact we tend to handle them little dignity and fairness compared to mammals. All feelings are denied to them and nobody seems to care about the revoltingly abominable and cruel fashion in which they are dealt with...

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against eating lobsters and I absolutely don't condemn the consumption of that delightfully tasting shellfish. I only believe that there should be some ethic rules regarding their manipulation (transportation, storing and cooking).

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With your cooked lobster, I recommend you to make the following salad (ideal if you love smörgåsbord/Koltbord) - Copyright Rosa's Yummy Yums 2011 :

You can also make that salad with shrimps, crab or krayfish.I used a frozen lobster (I'm too chicken to kill my own and and cannot accept the way they are being treated - all the travelling & hours of suffering in order to be sold living here -, so that's the best solution for me).

68 comments:

Eeek! I woke up early today and went to your post. The image looking back from the computer was better than a strong cup of coffee! Wow!

Awake, I read your informative post. You are absolutely correct about the transport. Ironically, a lobster that has been "stressed" doesn't taste as sweet as a "happy" lobster. Therefore, it is in all our best interests to find a better method of transport.

Rosa, I'm also a wuss, in regards to 'preparing' lobster. The last time I tried serving a fresh lobster, I panicked, and passed the torch onto my husband, who lacks a conscience. Kidding.Although, lobster is his favorite food.

In any case, this is a meriting ode—and eye-opening post—of a beautiful sea creature!

This made me a little sad. I feel guilt eating meat enough as it is. I tried to be a vegetarian for a year but being married to a meat-eater I ultimately found it is just easier to cook a mixed diet for both of us. I agree that there should be some rules applied to how these creatures are treated. It is horrifying the way so many creatures are treated, all for our benefit... Thank you for raising awareness. Maybe your words will fall on the right ears and some action can be taken!

I liked your informative post.It is true that live seafood is sold in the most heartless way in stores.I have seen live crabs piled one on top of the other in the most suffocating way.Love the pictures as usual...gorgeous orange color!

What a complex and fascinating species! It can grow back limbs...wow...I'm envious ;o)

Rosa, do you believe in having had different lives at other times? This may sound really strange and out there...however, I sensed an immense connection between yourself and the essence of the lobster. Maybe, who knows, you may have felt mistreated in this way at some point in a past life?!?

All this said, excellent reportage...hopefully a magazine could publish this and sensibilize the population.

Love, love, love your ode to lobster!The text is very nicely written, informative and the pictures are (as usual!!) beautiful. I had never seen losbsters as a Giger-style artéfact, there is definitely similarities... ;-)

I too am salivating over the thought of lobster salad. It's one of things I am missing since my move to Pennsylvania. Living on Long Island in New York, all I ever had to do was either go down to the dock when lobster was in season or to the nearest fish store.

Having grown up in New England I adore lobster but you are right to remind us of the cruel treatment these beautiful creatures have to go through to land on our tables.The most sickening part has been for me to see them in the Metro in their soft shell months and under 750 grams - a real scandal!!

This is a wonderful and thought provoking post Rosa...I eat seafood a few times a month and do enjoy lobster. It is a horrible thought that we as humans can put so little thought into another creatures life or suffering. Lobster is probably one of the worst.The salad sounds quite lovely :)

Great points and I really appreciated your perspective. Maybe for some people its easier to eat them if they separate the fact that they were once living creatures. I think that's why I appreciate the locaivore food movement so much - the whole aspect of knowing and understanding where your food comes from and treating it respect.

Thanks for sharing all this information about the lobster, all of which is new to me. I rarely eat lobster meat, but did have some noodles with lobster just a few days ago. I definitely agree with you about them deserving more humane treatment, along with many other animal that are raised or harvested for human consumption these days. Happy New Year, dear!

A very thoughtful and informative post Rosa, and as a scientist I am always fascinated by learning new things about what I eat. i appreciated all the detailed info you gave us, but also the aspect of how the animals are treated. Very true that they are treated much differently than cows or chickens! Maybe that will change in the future...?